dan jurgens

DC rocked the comics Internet pretty hard today with a massive announcement of 24 new comics spinning out of their Convergence event, and I can assure you that no one is more excited about this than I am. But the one thing that's most impressive about it is just how weird the publisher is getting. And folks, DC is getting weird.

Not only is the publisher reviving some of the deepest cuts in DC history, but it's also putting the spotlight on some truly weird characters -- including a few that I didn't think would ever make a comeback. So for the benefit of those of you who haven't been obsessing over DC Comics for the last three decades, here's a quick breakdown of the three weirdest comics coming up in DC's new lineup!

A more appropriate name for DC Comics' Convergence event, at least the miniseries that will accompany the main series for two months next spring, may be "Nostalgia Trip."

DC has been rolling out titles and creative teams for the 40 planned series week by week. The first batch focused on the publisher's pre-New 52 continuity. The second focused on the 1990s (including WildStorm), and the third seemed to center on the 1980s.

The fourth and final group of miniseries, which DC announced Tuesday, covers a much wider time period: All of DC's pre-Crisis On Infinite Earths continuity. And there's another twist: They all take place on defined and listed alternate Earths which existed before the company's last line-wide reboot in the 1980s.

That sound you just heard is the sound of one million Tumblrs updating.

On Tuesday morning DC announced titles, teams, and plot outlines for ten of its forty planned two-issue Convergence mini-series, which will coincide with the publisher's big event comic next spring and take the place of its regular monthly output. From the looks of it, there's plenty of fan-service involved for people who loved pre-New 52 DC continuity.

Not only is Renee Montoya getting her own two issues as The Question, written by Greg Rucka -- who initially put Montoya in that role -- and drawn by Cully Hamner; but there's a Stephanie Brown Batgirl series, a Nightwing/Oracle wedding story, a Wally West story, a Superman/Lois Lane marriage series, a Bruce/Damian Batman & Robin series, and so on.

Three years ago, DC Comics hit the continuity reset button with the launch of The New 52, seemingly wiping away the past 26 years of stories since Crisis on Infinite Earths.

But like superheroes, no story stays dead forever.

Next April, DC launches Convergence, a nine-part event series that brings the publisher's regular publishing schedule to a halt while bringing characters, places and concepts from DC's past into its current universe. It's also the culmination of the weekly series The New 52: Futures End and Earth 2: World's End, both of which wrap up just before Convergence launches.

We make a regular practice at ComicsAlliance of spotlighting particular artists or specific bodies of work, as well as the special qualities of comic book storytelling, but because cartoonists, illustrators and their fans share countless numbers of great pinups, fan art and other illustrations on sites like Flickr, Tumblr, DeviantArt and seemingly infinite art blogs that we’ve created Best Art Ever (This Week), a weekly depository for just some of the pieces of especially compelling artwork that we come across in our regular travels across the Web. Some of it’s new, some of it’s old, some of it’s created by working professionals, some of it’s created by future stars, some of it’s created by talented fans, awnd some of it’s endearingly silly. All of it is awesome.

This week, Chris and Matt are talking at length about Futures End #1 by Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Jeff Lemire and Patrick Zircher, which continues the killing trend set off by the Free Comic Book Day #0 issue. Then they talk about Rat Queens #6 by Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch and Moon Knight #3 by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire!

My breakfast these days usually consists of a cup of coffee and that feeling of crushing despair that comes from a new Funky Winkerbean strip, so I'll freely admit that I might not be eating as healthfully as I probably should. It's just that I don't have time, you understand -- if I were to sit down with a bowl of cereal, there might be a few minutes at the start of my day where I wasn't thinking about comics.

Now, General Mills -- who I am reliably informed is not a new militaristic windmill-themed supervillain, which really seems like a missed opportunity -- has set out to correct that deficiency with its second teamup with DC Comics since 2011. Starting this month and running 'til the end of April, cereals like Honey Nut Cheerios and Trix are going to come bundled with new comics about the Justice League. And the thing is, they actually look really fun.

Though weekly series were recently a major part of DC Comics' plans, the publisher took a few years off from them to focus on its New 52 initiative. Now, more than two years into the new DC Universe, the company is returning to the format with perhaps its most significant attempt at weekly comics yet. On the heels of the recently announced Batman: Eternal year long weekly series, this morning DC revealed plans for The New 52: Futures End, its second weekly book in 2014.

We make a regular practice at ComicsAlliance of spotlighting particular artists or specific bodies of work, but because cartoonists, illustrators and their fans share countless numbers of great images on sites like Flickr, Tumblr, DeviantArt and seemingly infinite art blogs that we’ve created Best Art Ever (This Week), a weekly depository for just some of the pieces of especially compelling artwork that we come across in our regular travels across the Web. Some of it’s new, some of it’s old, some of it’s created by working professionals, some of it’s created by future stars, some of it’s created by talented fans, and some of it’s endearingly silly. All of it’s awesome.

To commemorate the 75th birthday of the Man of Steel, Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment hosted the "Superman's 75th Anniversary Celebration" panel. On hand to discuss the history, legacy and cultural significance of Superman were a group of writers, artists, actors and filmmakers who've had a lasting effect on the character: Paul Levitz, former DC Comics president; Jack Larson, the original Jimmy Olsen from the 1950's Adventures of Superman; Superman Unchained aritst and DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee; All-Star Superman and Action Comics writer Grant Morrison; Tim Daly, the voice of Superman in the 1990's Superman: The Animated Series; Molly Quinn, who voices Supergirl in Superman Unbound; long-time Superman writer and artist Dan Jurgens; Man of Steel co-writer David S. Goyer; and Man of Steel stars Dylan Sprayberry (teenage Clark Kent) and Henry Cavill.

As expected, the room where the panel was held was packed, and many attendees were not able to get in. Fortunately, courtesy of Superman Homepage, the entire panel is now available to view online, and you can check it out after the cut.

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